So what are my plans for the next year? I’ve got my eye on a few projects, one in particular that I’d like to use as a spring board to add a new photographic style to my work. Of course I’ll not say anything more as firstly, it’ll take a while to perfect and secondly, because walls have ears and the world needn’t know till the time is ready.  So if you want to know what it is then keep checking back here or head over to Facebook.

Anyway, a big thank you to all who take the time to read my blog and look at my images. I look forward to posting some further great images over the next 12 months.

Like last year, as a thank-you gift for your loyalty, here are a few quick quips: (try saying that quickly with a mouth full!!)

1) A dog is truly a man’s best friend. If you don’t believe it, just try this experiment. Put your dog and your wife in the boot of the car for an hour. When you open the boot, who is really happy to see you?

2) A woman came home, screeching her car into the driveway, and ran into the house. She slammed the door and shouted at the top of her lungs, “Honey, pack your bags. I won the lottery!” The husband said, “What should I pack, beach stuff or mountain stuff?” ”Doesn’t matter,” she said. “Just get out.

3) And finally…I wish to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather, not panicking like his passengers.

After applying to join and then hearing nothing for a while, I simply thought that I didn’t qualify to join this elite group of photographers. That was until I received this e-mail: “Hi Clive, We are happy to inform you that after having reviewed your web site and image portfolio, we agree you meet the WPJA membership requirements! We look forward to having you as a member.”

As you can imagine I’m chuffed, to say the least!!

Being a member will provide me with the platform to expand my documentary coverage of weddings, which I feel can give a far more accurate, natural and unobtrusive record of a wedding. This will benefit everyone as: The couple will enjoy the day more, rather than being dragged around for a mock fashion photo shoot on their weding day, instead they can spend time with their guests. Also I’ll enjoy the day more as I’m spending my time looking for those timeless, fleeting moments that so often go unnoticed.

For example, since my last post, amongst other things I’ve:

Covered 5 weddings. (one in Jamaica)

Photographed a pre-wedding shoot and the annual photo session for the Ford family.

Been interviewing a few of my recommended suppliers about their work and businesses  so that you get a better idea of why I recommend them.

Finished off attending the wedding fayres for this season.

Getting my new logo and brand tweeked, in preparation for the autumn season.

…and in among all that I’ve somehow found time to get away for 10 days in Malta (of course with camera always in hand)

Naturally I’ll be posting images from the above, but just thought I’d give you a heads up on what’s coming over the next several posts.

So check back later for more details.

In fact I think it would be too confusing to mix styles, as the album should tell the same story from beginning to end. Whether it be a modern style, or contemporary style. To me mixing styles would be like starting to read a romance novel that left that story line and turned into a who-done-it-type thriller then ended up as a book on comedy at the end, with no consistency.

In the end I realise that my goal is to keep to one style which should become my trademark. What that style is or called, who knows!! I’ll leave you to judge, but at least I’d like to think that I’m not aiming to be all things to all people, just one style for one special day with one story to tell, your story!!

I’ve been experimenting quite a bit with panoramic views of late, but rather just take one wide-angled photo, which often never does the view justice, I’ve been taking several images and stitching them together in Photoshop as that way I can get a much wider, panoramic, spectacular view.

I did the same thing at a recent wedding at Weston Park, where I wanted to take a panoramic view of the venue, again stitching several images together to produce what I wanted. I’ll post the image later as I used the image in an album I delivered to the venue, as they’re now promoting me as a preferred photographer. (It’s nice to be wanted )

After the session Marverine said she’d like me to give her a quick video interview for her consumer blog detailing how different people and companies are dealing with the credit crunch. Thus began my 1 min and 44 secs (or there about) of fame!

(The full report that accompanied the video on the blog is dated: Oct 28th) But looking at the video I’m more convinced that I’m better off staying firmly behind the camera lens in future!!

So as part of my ongoing development as a photographer, my next goal is to upgrade my professional qualification. There are currently three levels of qualifications, each reflecting increasing levels of experience, skill and achievement.

Licentiate: The entry level which represents an established level of skill and competence.

Associateship: Midway between Licentiateship and Fellowship, which denotes a high standard of craftsmanship and individual creative ability.

Fellowship: The highest qualification attainable and recognises distinguished individual ability and exceptional standards of excellence.

As I’m a member of both the MPA and BIPP and I’m at Licentiaship level, I carry the letters LMPA, LBIPP after my name. But the time has come to move on to Associateship level.

To help me achieve this and to prove to the judging panel that my work does reflect the required “high standard of craftsman and individual creative ability” I’m being mentored and pointed in the right direction.

How long will it take to reach my goal? Who knows! There are only a few upgrade days each year, so it may take a few months, it may take a few years, but at least the journey of self improvement will be worth it. And if I work hard enough who knows one day I may be known as Clive Blair AMPA, ABIPP (Oooh that has a lovely ring to it!!) So watch this space!!

Here’s the latest from their recent session.

]]> http://cliveblairphotography.co.uk/blog/2008/05/26/saleisha-may-2008/feed/ 0 http://cliveblairphotography.co.uk/blog/2008/04/30/portugal/ http://cliveblairphotography.co.uk/blog/2008/04/30/portugal/#comments Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:41:53 +0000 Clive http://cliveblairphotography.co.uk/blog/?p=376 I’m not long back from a break in Albufeira, in Portugal. We visited this area 3 years ago and loved it enough to visit again, staying between the historic old town and the more “touristy”new town. What I love about the old town, as with many other Portuguese towns is the wonderful architecture, many with a Moorish connection, the white-washed buildings that contrast beautifully with the blue sky, winding narrow lanes waiting to be explored and photographed, and of course the long sandy beaches for the relaxing afternoon spent just listening to mighty sea.

Naturally my camera went too:

Just thought I’d change it’s look a bit.

Why? Because I’ve always wanted to display my photos a bit bigger as I think they’ll look far better. But my previous layout was very limiting as it only had a relatively small window to display in. By contrast this layout, as you’ve already noticed is much wider and will allow me more room to display. Hope you enjoy the extra real estate I now have.

One thing to note though is that the images in my previous posts may appear a bit disjointed as they try to fit into the extra room. I’ve decided not to correct any of them as it would be a mammoth task to re-post/re-position all my past images, so please accept my apologies. But I feel it’s worth it for the sake of better posts in the future.

Like this image below from my break in the Lake District that I couldn’t show as wide as I’d like.
So look out for some larger/wider images in the future.

There were 8 of us in total sharing a cottage and we had a great time together, especially as a few were budding photographers. So I suggested that we have a photo competition on the last day, but as I was the only full time photographer, I’d judge it because if I entered I’d be sure to win

This was the view greeting us each morning outside our cottage

The view 200 yards up the road

My favourite of the week of Crummock Water (click thumbnail below to view)